Black Eyelet Shirt (similar here from J.Crew as well) // Skinny Jeans // Gucci Purse // Everlane Heels // Similar earrings

Just a few months ago, I was feeling so excited for my 30th birthday. I had this master plan that my 30’s were going to be a magical time of settling into my life, achieving major personal milestones and giving a little less of a crap about the things that I can’t control. But for some reason, the last few weeks have been stressing me out, and most of the stress is related to my birthday looming over me in the next few months (February 2019, it’s going down. Or up! TBD). I’ve been feeling this pit in my stomach, and this weird, looming anxiety that just won’t go away. And I’ve been second guessing most aspects of my life- am I where I want to be in my career? Are my relationships where they need to be? Should I just say “screw it all” and go on a month long yoga retreat because that seems like a super solid idea at this moment? Needless to say, it’s stressing me out.

While I’ve never been the kinda gal to have a master life plan that I’m following, I did have some ideas about where and what I’d be – and certain ages represented certain achievements I felt like I should have made by that time. And there’s a fine balance of having something to strive for with it comes to those life achievements, but also letting them go when it doesn’t quite pan out. Or at least brush off your shoulders and giving it a go one more time.    Between the (most likely) irrational anxiety turning one year older has been causing me, I’ve been trying to show myself some grace in appreciating where I am in this moment. I think back to when I was 23 and my dream in life was to move to Chicago and work in social media – regardless of where I was in my career or what exactly I’d be doing, as long as I was in Chicago I was going to be successful (at least in the eyes of my 23 year old self!).

I think about all my amazing friends I’ve made over the past few years, and while I sometimes lament that we don’t have the Sex In the City-esque brunches I imagined every weekend, they’re still the best people in the world. I’ve got a cute condo, a (potentially) realistic dream to one day have a dog, and a whole handful of really good things that should make 30 the best year yet. And honestly, I still have 5 months to maybe get my anxiety about this turning a whole year older thing in gear – a lot can happen in just a few short months 🙂    I’ve never had anxiety before about getting older – and in the past I’ve totally embraced it! And while I’m stressing out a little bit, I still think 30’s going to be a good one – I just have to give myself a little grace and patience.

Anyone who’s in the 30 and up club, were you stressed or excited about turning 30? Tell me how much you love being in your 30’s and how I shouldn’t be freaked out in the comments below. All the negative comments telling me I’m going to die soon are not needed 😉 xx